Elsie Budin Jonas, 95, of Clarkson, Nebraska, died Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 4, at SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Clarkson with Father Matthew Gutowski officiating. Visitation will be on Friday, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM and continue on Saturday, from 9:30 AM until service time, all at the church. Interment will be in Clarkson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Clarkson Historical Museum or the Clarkson Opera House. Thew service will be broadcast live on Gass Haney Funeral Home Facebook page.

Elsie M. Budin Jonas was born on the family farm in Stanton County, Nebraska, on July 15, 1926, to James and Anna (Kyncl) Stepan, the youngest of four children. She attended School District #54 and graduated from Stanton High School in 1944. Elsie worked as a clerk at AJ Karel & Sons grocery store from 1944 to 1948. That's where she met her future husband Lloyd L. Budin. The couple was married on June 18, 1948, in Seward, Nebraska. They lived in Milford, Nebraska, where Lloyd finished trade school and then moved to Seward, Schuyler, and to Clarkson in 1957, where they opened Budin Body Shop in the early 1960s.

After the death of Lloyd from cancer in 1973 Elsie took it upon herself and took driving lessons. She then returned to clerk at Karel's store until she married Alvin Jonas on January 26, 1979, in Clarkson. They lived on a farm northwest of Clarkson until retiring and moving into Clarkson in 1998. During this time, Elsie was diagnosed with acute leukemia and spent two months in an Omaha hospital. She was a 33-year cancer survivor. Alvin passed away September 21, 2000, of chronic leukemia and Elsie continued living in her own home till after her 90th birthday.

Elsie was a member of SS. Cyril and Methodius Church and its Altar Society, member of the Ladies Auxiliary Post 6419 and a life member of the Norfolk Antique Car Club where Lloyd was an active member. She enjoyed playing cards, especially Taroks and pitch, ladies card club, her cell phone!, making tied quilts, word searches, puzzles (doing a 300 piece one a day during covid), feeding the finches, TV game shows, collecting glass baskets, creamers, and sugars, salt and pepper collections, her bluebirds, and afternoon chats with her CCCC family. Most of all, her real passion was Czech music and loved to dance.

Elsie is survived by:
Daughter: Sharon (Robert) Cerv of Clarkson, NE
Adam (Ann) Cerv
Madison (Craig) Gall
Culleen Cerv (Seth Steinmeyer)
Quinn Steinmeyer
Jody Cerv Willison (Kris Evans)
Bentley Willison
Maxx Willison
Brittan Evans
Declan Evans
Daughter: Karen (Deon) Brabec Tiedtke of Clarkson, NE
Brad Brabec
Blaine Brabec
Kimberley (Russ) Scott
Taylor Stanley
Tanner Stanley
Travis Stanley
Raelynn Scott
Makenna Scott
Michael (Lori) Brabec
Gavin Brabec
Haden Brabec
Jason (Tammy) Brabec
Kinley Brabec
Jeremy Brabec
Gracie Brabec
Hadley Brabec
Jason (Cris) Tiedtke
Ashley (Jordan) Evans
Conner (Cami) Tiedtke
Sara (Craig) McDowall
Haley Tiedtke
Addy McDowall
Daughter: Donna Praest of Norfolk, NE
Laurie Nissen (William Hall)
Abbie Hensley
Randy Hensley
Riley Hensley
Neil (Violet) Nissen Jr.
Sheri Praest (Tom Swierczyski)
Darrin Praest (Tiffany)
Gary (Jenny) Praest
Bridget Praest
Lilly Praest
Garret Praest
Kevin (Jen) Praest
Amy Praest
Audrey Praest
Colton Praest
Daughter: Judy (Larry) Lange Roots of Omaha, NE
Nicholas (Liz) Lange
Miles Lange
Colin Lange
James Lange and Nora Greiman
Logan Roots (Misty Reeves)
Fianna Roots
Karma Roots
Nova Roots
Scarlett Roots
Many nieces & nephews

Elsie was preceded in death by:
Parents: James & Anna Stepan
Husband: Lloyd Budin (1973)
Husband: Alvin Jonas (2000)
Granddaughter: Mary Praest (1970)
Great Granddaughter: Alayna Cerv Willison (2004)
Son-in-law: Dean J. Brabec (2020)
Brother: James Stepan Jr.
Sister: Adeline Briggs & Libbie Mastny

Service Folder Information
In Loving Memory Of

Elsie Budin Jonas

Born
Sunday, July 15, 1926
Stanton County, Nebraska

Entered Into Rest
Sunday, May 29, 2022
Norfolk, Nebraska

Service
Saturday, June 4, 2022 10:30 AM
SS Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church
Clarkson, Nebraska

Officiant
Fr. Matthew Gutowski

Pall Bearers
Jody Cerv Willison
Kimberley Brabec Scott
Laurie Praest Nissen
Sheri Praest

Music
Ann Cattau
"Hallelujah"
"Peace Like A River"
"Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone"
"Lead Me Lord"
Jim Mastny
"Wild Goose Waltz"

Casket Bearers
Brad Brabec
Michael Brabec
Jason Brabec
Jeremy Brabec
Adam Cerv
Darrin Praest
Gary Praest
Kevin Praest
Nicholas Lange
James Lange
Logan Roots

Interment
Clarkson National Cemetery
Clarkson, Nebraska